Bruise Like A Fist – The episode opens with Joe (Zoe Saldana) grilling Cruz Manuelos/Zara Adid (Laysla De Oliveira) about her knowledge of art. She urges her to “answer questions with questions.” When Cruz changes the subject to the beauty of Chesapeake, Joe warns that a tracker and bug will be installed in her vehicle. Cruz tosses her phone in the Chesapeake Bay.

Joe voices concern about Aaliyah Amrohi’s (Stephanie Nur) unexpected access to a lot of money and American connections. Kaitlyn Meade (Nicole Kidman) asks about the Chesapeake property owner. The Steakhouse waiter (Brand Ocasio) interrupts to take their order. Joe tells her it is Qudrah Petrol. Kaitlyn says they may be onto them. Joe assures her if that were the case they would not send Aaliyah to shut them down. Kaitlyn says they throw a bash and “plant someone on her.” Joe claims to have a team ready just in case when Senator Palmer (Clark Carmichael) approaches. Upon exiting the restaurant, Joe is approached by Kyle (Thad Luckinbill) who asks to use her team to extract a human trafficking contact during a transfer.

Kyle warns of what will happen if Homeland Security discovers they are “planting a flag on the border.” She agrees to let him borrow three of her agents for 48 hours.

Cruz arrives at the Chesapeake estate. As a guard escorts her to the pool, another guard (Karim Nematt) runs her license plate. A guard (Avi Vichner) monitors security footage while investigating her details. After a quick embrace, Aaliyah introduces her to Nala (Priscilla Douelhy), Malika (Carla Mansour), and Nashwa (Layla Mohammadi). She informs her of Sami (Adam Budron) dating Nashwa before Malika. She claims the girls were sworn enemies until he had sex with a blonde. She identifies Kamal (Sam Asghari) as her fiance’s brother. Nashwa demands Joe remove her sunglasses. Aaliyah tells her that she was injured in a car accident. Joe complies before modeling her swimsuit which Aaliyah is determined to replace.

Joe’s new swimsuit displays the remnants from her training. After claiming the abrasions were caused by the seatbelt, Joe assures her that she is fine. Aaliyah refutes her claim before walking away.

Bobby (Jill Wagner) tells Joe that a satellite view is as good as it gets for the Chesapeake estate. She suggests renting a yacht to get a better view. Tex (Jonah Wharton) tells Joe that Cruz’s lacerations startled everyone and a physician may have been called in. She says the estate is owned by Qudrah Petro. Two Cups (James Jordan) points out that Qudrah Petro is a joint Mobil and Saudi oil venture that earns more money than Google and Amazon combined. Randy (Austin Hebert), Two Cups, and Tucker (LaMonica Garrett) volunteer for the human trafficking extraction. Randy informs her of a bug embedded in Cruz’s necklace and purse tassel. Bobby voices concern about a sweep with only three agents to remove Cruz from the estate. Dr. Brumley (David Alan Basche) examines Cruz. He tells her that the injuries she sustained are not consistent with a car crash.

Cruz claims the vehicle was compact. Brumley demonstrates how the contusions are the same size as a fist. Bobby says let’s go, the estate is 15 minutes away. Joe refuses to pull Cruz out because it would blow the operation. Brumley informs her of the law that requires physicians to report abuse. Claiming to have reported her abuser, Cruz tells him that she is in the process of starting over. She pleads with him to not say anything before saying her abuser was arrested in North Carolina last night. Bobby and Joe are convinced by her story. Tex threatens to avenge Cruz by going after the SERE instructor. Joe admits to ordering the SERE training. Aaliyah’s friends leave for the restaurant when Brumley tells her that Cruz has separated ribs but she will be okay. Bobby warns that Aaliyah’s friends will be problematic.

Aaliyah and Cruz discuss her impending wedding. She is thankful her fiancé, Ehsan (Ray Corasani) works in Manhattan because she has no desire to live in the Middle East. She warns her to stay clear of Nashwa and Malika, they will eventually hate her but Nala is harmless. Cruz asks why they are there. Aaliyah claims a woman’s husband chooses everything for her.

Joe walks in on Kate (Hannah Love Lanier) and Michael (Jackson Dorfmann) making out. Utilizing his phone, she calls his mother to inform her. After Michael leaves, they get into an argument. Neal (Dave Annable) leads Tom through a surgical procedure. Joe tells him about Kate and Michael’s sexual interlude. He explains their agreement which prohibits her from removing her pants, only her shirt is allowed.

Cruz is drinking out of the faucet when Sami hands her a glass. He offers her something stronger to drink. She reminds him of it being 2am. He boasts of being on vacation and she can be as well with the right guy. When he grabs her, she hits him. Not taking a hint, he grabs her again. A second hit takes his breath, giving her time to flee to her room. After speaking with Kamal, he goes to Cruz’s room where she frantically searches for something to use as a weapon. Holding an ink pen, she hides behind a wall while he tries to force the door open. Spotting Sami on CCTV, a guard issues an alert. Asif (Richard Haddad) informs Sami of the room being occupied. As he walks away, Asif asks if she is all right. She unlocks the door to show him that she is okay before returning to bed when she spots a red light hidden inside a ceiling vent.

Kaitlyn asks if Iraq’s oil production has returned to normal. Errol (Martin Donovan) says the company reported 100 million barrels last month. She points out that Iraq is Exxon-Mobil’s biggest partner. After adding BP to the list, he claims only 5% of Iraq’s oil makes it to the U.S. She tells him that Qudrah Oil is back on her target. He says the company sells 12 million barrels of oil daily. He warns that she will be the target if she does not tread cautiously.

Van Horn, Texas – Two Cups, Randy, Kyle, and Tucker discuss a strategy to extract Kyle’s informant. Kyle suggests avoiding a “gunfight” unless they get pulled into one then win no matter what. Two Cups questions which agency they are working under. Kyle informs him of the extraction being unauthorized. Tucker reminds him of the police’s body cams and radios. Producing a handheld device, Kyle boats of his ability to disable law enforcement’s phones and vehicles. Randy follows the Sheriff’s van carrying the contact when he spots two suspicious vehicles. Entering an exit ramp, Kyle disables the Sheriff’s van and phones. The two vehicles collide with an oncoming semi-truck. Concealing their face, they cautiously approach the Sheriff’s van. The contact is removed without incident.

Two Cups and Tucker jump into the vehicle before it speeds away. Kyle boasts of a successful extraction when their vehicle is back-ended. Two Cups and Tucker fire at the truck until it veers off the road. Randy drives to an abandoned barn where a vehicle is waiting. Everyone tosses their disguises inside the vehicle. The contact is led to the other vehicle. Kyle douses the vehicle with gasoline and tosses a canister in the back. As Randy drives away, the vehicle explodes. Two Cups voices concern about them getting caught. Kyle assures them that the Administration will kill the story if it surfaces.

Aaliyah informs Cruz that Ehsan sending Sami home. Ehsan announces an unexpected trip. Gathering their gear, Joe’s team heads out. Nala promises to help Cruz with her makeup on the plane. Aaliyah scolds her for spoiling the surprise. As Cruz becomes concerned, Joe says the vehicle is going to the GBO. Tex jumps out to grab a tail number on a plane during takeoff. Reading off a tail number, Cruz asks if that is the type of plane. Ehsan says it is the tail number. Aaliyah expresses excitement at the thought of spoiling Cruz. Joe asks for the flight path. A concerned Cruz boards the plane as the episode ends.

 

Special Ops: Lioness Review

Aaliyah invites Cruz to Chesapeake to meet her friends and fiancé, Ehsan. A property check shows the estate is owned by Qudrah Petrol, a Saudi and Mobil-Exxon oil venture. Aaliyah convinces her to put on a bikini when she notices her body is covered in abrasions. She insists on her being examined by Dr. Brumley who knows her injuries are related to a MVA. Cruz convinces him to not report the abuse by claiming her abuser was previously arrested.

Sami gets physical with Cruz when she turns down his advances. She subdues him long enough to escape to her room. Determined to get what he wants, he tries to force her bedroom door open. A guard monitoring the CCTV picks it up. Asfi urges him to return to his room. The next morning, Ehsan sends him home.

Joe loans Two Cups, Randy, and Tucker to Kyle to extract one of his informants during a transfer. Kyle gets his contact but several men are killed in the process. The team blows up the evidence utilized in the operation.

Cruz is taken aback when he announces an unplanned trip. Joe and her team rush to get the plane’s tail number, so they can track the flight path.

The series is not forthcoming with vital information about “Lioness.” Other than the target, Qudrah Petrol, not much has been revealed about the operation. It’s questionable why Kyle’s unauthorized extraction is injected into the storyline. Avoiding the plot as long as possible is a lame way to drag the series out for eight episodes.

The episode was decent but staying on plot would have made it more enjoyable. It rates a 6. Get more Special Ops: Lioness recaps here. Support Reel Mockery by donating to our site. Our onsite advertising is customizable and scalable, click the link to learn more.